Pouring spout



N 1965 G. MCSTAY JACKSON POURING SPOUT Filed Sept. 2, 1964 INVENTORGEORGE M STAY JACKSON I, W, M:

3,219,237 PQURHNG SPOUT George McStay Jackson, Chicago, 111.; ClareMarie Jackson, executor of said George M. Jackson, deceased Filed ept.2, 1964, Ser. No. 393,909 4 Claims. (Cl. 222--78) This invention relatesto a pouring spout for bottles, and more particularly to a new andimproved pouring spout which is illuminated upon tilting of the bottlefor pouring the contents therefrom.

The invention is an improvement over the pouring spout disclosed andclaimed in Patent 2,477,984, granted to me on August 2, 1949. Indispensing beverages, particularly alcoholic beverages from standardquart and one-fifth gallon bottles, in a cocktail lounge or likeestablishment, it is desirable to use a pouring spout on the bottlesbecause of the frequency of the pouring operations. The pouring spout inthe aforesaid patent includes a bottle stopper portion or plug adaptedto be inserted in the neck of a bottle, a tubular passage extendingthrough the stopper portion to an outlet in a decorative figure portionof the spout, and illuminating means actuated upon tilting of the spoutwhen dispensing the contents of the bottle. As explained in my patentmentioned above, the decorative figure portion of the spout may includea design, such as a trademark, or advertising materials, such as a tradename, to produce upon its illumination an eye-catching effect havingadvertising and display value.

It is a primary object of the present invention to provide a pouringspout of the type described having new and improved means for slidablysupporting one or more flashlight batteries which light a small bulbupon tilting of the bottle to which the spout is attached therby toilluminate the decorative portion of the pouring spout.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a pouringspout of the type described including new and improved means adaptingthe spout to receive conventional flashlight batteries in unalteredform.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a pouring spoutof the type described having unique means for facilitating installationand replacement of the flashlight battery and/or bulb.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will becomeapparent from the following specification disclosing a preferredembodiment of the invention which is illustrated in the accompanyingdrawing where- FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the pouring spout ofthis invention in its vertical non-pouring position;

FIG. 2 is a view similar to FIG. 1 but showing portions of the pouringspout broken away and in section;

FIG. 3 is a section taken along line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a reduced perspective View of the illumination producing partsof the pouring spout removed from the latter; and

FIG. 5 is a section taken along line 55 of FIG. 2 with the bulb removedfrom the bulb supporting member.

Referring to the drawing, the pouring spout of this invention will beseen to include a decorative figure portion and a bottle stopper portion12. In the illustrative form of the invention, the decorative figureportion of the pouring spout is shown in the form of a parrot. Portion10 is substantially hollow and includes an elongated internal chamber 14which is arranged at an angle to the vertical axis of the spout when thelatter is in the vertical non-pouring position illustrated in FIGS. 1and 2. Chamber 14 is open at its lower end and is substantially closedatet U by an element 16 which forms the tail of the parrot.

3,219,237 Patented Nov. 23, 1965 ice Element 16 is removable from thebody of the parrot which forms the decorative portion of the bottlestopper, and this element is attached to the illuminating mechanism ofthe pouring spout as will be explained below.

Bottle stopper portion 12 includes an integral frustoconical portion orstopper 18 which is adapted to be snugly received in the mouth of aconventional quart or one-fifth gallon bottle. Stopper portion 12 alsoincludes an integral outwardly extending flange 20 which slidablyengages the underside of an inwardly extending flange 22 forming a partof a ring 24. Ring 24, which is freely rotatable on stopper portion 12,is internally threaded for threading engagement with the threads aroundthe mouth of a bottle thereby adapting the ring for removably securingthe pouring spout to a bottle.

The pouring spout further includes a pouring passageway 26 which extendsthrough bottle stopper portion 12 and opens at the beak of the parrotwhich forms decor-ative portion 10 of the pouring spout. A ventpassageway 28 extends through a tubular extension 30 integral with plug18 and through stopper portion 12 where it communicates with additionalvent passageways 32 and 34 which open at the exterior of spout portion12. These passageways serve to prevent a vacuum hold-back by the liquidcontends of a bottle to which the pouring spout is attached.

The pouring spout of this invention further includes a metallic,elongated base member 36 having one end thereof secured to element 16.Element 16, which is preferably of molded plastic construction, includesa suitable socket formation 38 in which one end of base member 36 issecured. Base member 36 includes laterally extending projecting portions40 adjacent the end thereof secured to element 16, and other laterallyprojecting portions 42 at its other end. As noted in FIG. 3, theinblined base of chamber 14 includes opposed longitudinally extendingguideways 44. These guideways receive projections 40, 42 of the basemember thereby slidably to receive the latter in chamber 14. In otherwords, base member 36 may be slid into and out of chamber 14 by slidingmovement of projections 40, 42 in guideways 44. This sliding movement isbrought about by grasping element 16 by a persons fingers.

Base member 36 includes longitudinally extending inturned flanges 46intermediate the ends thereof. A onepiece battery carrying slide member48 is of generally U-shaped cross section having at its bight portionoutwardly extending ribs 50 which are slidably received under flanges 46of the base member thereby to mount the slide member for free reciprocalsliding movement longitudinally of the base member. Slide member 48,which is of metallic construction, includes curved side wall portions 52which are adapted to be sprung apart for gripping the non-metalliccasing of a flashlight battery. As noted in FIG. 3, chamber 14 includesinwardly extending ledges 53 which slidably engage slide member walls 52thereby to stabilize the slide member laterally during its slidingmovement in chamber 14. Slide member 48 further includes at one of itsends an integral bent portion 54 adapted to contact one end of aflashlight battery 56 and an integral lip 58 at its other end adapted toengage the other end of the battery adjacent the periphery thereof.

A cylindrical, metallic, threaded bulb supporting member 60 is open atone end thereof for threadingly receiving a conventional bulb 62. Bulbsupporting member 60 is secured at its other end to a dielectric washer64, which washer is secured to base member 36 by suitable means, such asa metallic rivet 66 (FIG. 5). Washer 64 insulates bulb supporting member60 from both base member 36 and rivet 66. Rivet 66 serves as a contactand is engaged by the contact of bulb 62 when the latter is seated inthe bulb supporting member.

When the pouring spout is tilted to the right, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and2, for pouring the contents of a bottle through pouring passageway 26,slide member 48 slides from left to right for bringing terminal 68 ofbattery 56 into contact with bulb supporting member 60 thereby tocomplete the circuit for lighting bulb 62. It will be understood thatdecorative portion of the pouring spout is preferably made of plastictranslucent material. Accordingly, when bulb 62 is lit the decorativeportion 10 of the pouring spout is illuminated for drawing attentionthereto. When the pouring spout is in the vertical non-pouring positionillustrated, movement of slide member 48 away from the bulb supportingmember is limited by engagement of bent portion 54 with the insidesurface of element 16.

It will be realized that the pouring spout of this invention is adaptedto receive conventional batteries of the flashlight type without thenecessity of removing the non-metallic cover of the battery which isnecessary in the use of the pouring spout disclosed in my aforesaidpatent. It will be appreciated that base member 36 may be readilyremoved for installation and replacement of battery 56 and/or bulb 62 bygrasping element 16 and slidably withdrawing the base member from theguideways in the base of chamber 14. Special tools or devices are notrequired for installing and replacing the battery and/ or bulb.

While the invention has been shown in but one form, it will be obviousto those skilled in the art that it is not to be so limited. On thecontrary, the invention is susceptible of various forms andmodifications without departing from the spirit and scope of theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In an illuminant pouring spout including a bottle stopper portion anda decorative portion provided with an elongated internal chamberarranged at an angle to the vertical axis of the spout when the latteris in a vertical non-pouring position on a bottle and which chamber isopen at its lower end, which spout further includes a pouring passage,the improvement comprising, an elongated removable member detachablysecured in said chamber, a finger-grippable element fastened to one endof said removable member, which element forms a part of said decorativeportion and substantially closes the open end of said chamber when theremovable member is secured in said chamber, a bulb supporting membersecured on the other end of said removable member, a battery carryingslide member secured on said removable member intermediate the endsthereof for free sliding movement in either direction longitudinally ofthe removable member, said slide member and said bulb supporting memberbeing arranged and adapted so that when the former is slid toward thelatter a bulb in the bulb supporting member is lit by a flashlightbattery in the slide member, whereby when the spout is tilted to apouring position the decorative portion thereof is illuminated.

2. The pouring spout according to claim 1 wherein said slide member isgenerally U-shaped in cross section and formed of resilient material forreleasably gripping one or more flashlight batteries.

3. In an illuminant pouring spout including a bottle stopper portion anda decorative portion provided with an elongated internal chamberarranged at an angle to the vertical axis of the spout when the spout isin a vertical non-pouring position on a bottle and which chamber is openat its lower end, which spout further includes a pouring passage, theimprovement comprising, an elongated metallic base member removablysecured in said chamber, a finger-grippable element fastened to one endof said base member, which element forms a part of said decorativeportion and substantially closes the open end of said chamber when thebase member is secured in the same, a cylindrical bulb supporting memberopen at one of its ends for reception of a bulb and having its other endsecured to the other end of said base member via dielectric means, acontact supported by said dielectric means and being in electricalcontact with said base member, a battery carrying slide member securedon said base member intermediate the ends thereof for free slidingmovement in either direction longitudinally of the base member, whichslide member is generally U-shaped in cross section and formed ofresilient metallic material for releasably gripping the non-metalliccover of a flashlight battery thereby to support the latter in generalparallel relation with the base member so that when the slide member isslid toward the bulb supporting member the latter is contacted by oneend of a flashlight battery carried by the slide member, said slidemember including a bent portion at the end thereof adjacent said one endof the base member for contacting the other end of the flashlightbattery, whereby when the spout is tilted to a pouring position a bulbin said bulb supporting member is lit by the battery in said slidemember for illuminating the decorative portion of the spout.

4. The pouring spout according to claim 3 wherein said elongated chamberincludes longitudinally extending guideways in which laterally extendingportions of the base member are slidably received, whereby said basemember may he slid out of and into said chamber for installing andreplacing the flashlight battery.

No references cited.

LOUIS J. DEMBO, Primary Examiner.

1. IN AN ILLUMINANT POURING SPOUT INCLUDING A BOTTLE STOPPER PORTION ANDA DECORATIVE PORTION PROVIDED WITH AN ELONGATED INTERNAL CHAMBERARRANGED AT AN ANGLE TO THE VERTICAL AXIS OF THE SPOUT WHEN THE LATTERIS IN A VERTICAL NON-POURING POSITION ON A BOTTLE AND WHICH CHAMBER ISOPEN AT ITS LOWER END, WHICH SPOUT FURTHER INCLUDES A POURING PASSAGE,THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING, AN ELONGATED REMOVABLE MEMBER DETACHABLYSECURED IN SAID CHAMBER, A FINGER-GRIPPABLE ELEMENT FASTENED TO ONE ENDOF SAID REMOVABLE MEMBER, WHICH ELEMENT FORMS A PART OF SAID DECORATIVEPORTION AND SUBSTANTIALLY CLOSES THE OPEN END OF SAID CHAMBER WHEN THEREMOVABLE MEMBER IS SECURED IN SAID CHAMBER, A BULB SUPPORTING MEMBERSECURED ON THE OTHER END OF SAID REMOVABLE MEMBER, A BATTERY CARRYINGSLIDE MEMBER SECURED ON SAID REMOVABLE MEMBER INTERMEDIATE THE ENDSTHEREOF FOR FREE SLIDING MOVEMENT IN EITHER DIRECTION LONGITUDINALLY OFTHE REMOVABLE MEMBER, SAID SLIDE MEMBER AND SAID BULB SUPPORTING MEMBERBEING ARRANGED AND ADAPTED SO THAT WHEN THE FORMER IS SLID TOWARD THELATTER A BULB IN THE BULB SUPPORTING MEMBER IS LIT BY A FLASHLIGHTBATTERY IN THE SLIDE MEMBER, WHEREBY WHEN THE SPOUT IS TILTED TO APOURING POSITION THE DECORATIVE PORTION THEREOF IS ILLUMINATED.